Scholarships and Bursaries

What is the MAPS Bursary?

This bursary provides non-repayable tuition and book assistance to part-time students who demonstrate financial need and do not qualify for OSAP. This includes students in degree programs AND certificate/diploma programs through McMaster Centre for Continuing Education (CCE).

The McMaster Association for Part-Time Students (MAPS) generously donates the funding for this program. Primarily available to those receiving social assistance, the MAPS bursary program aids those who are economically disadvantaged.

Additional financial resources are required as the MAPS Bursary is not a means of covering the full cost of attendance. You are required to enrol and pay for your courses BEFORE receiving MAPS Bursary funding.

The value of the MAPS Bursary varies each term. Limited bursaries are available.

Who can apply?

You can apply for the MAPS Bursary if you are:

• Economically disadvantaged
• Taking a part-time degree OR diploma/certificate program
• Ineligible for OSAP

Ineligible for the MAPS Bursary:

• Not economically disadvantaged
• No demonstration of financial need according to online aid application
• Entitled to OSAP for Part-Time Students
• Enrolled in a full-time course load

How to apply

Follow the step-by-step instructions under the “How to apply” tab to fill out your online aid application in Mosaic.

• Complete the MAPS Bursary application for either undergraduate part-time students or continuing education (CCE) students
• Complete the 4-month budget for the study period (e.g. fall enrolment > September to December)
• You need to submit a new MAPS Bursary for each term (fall, winter, spring/summer)
• Incomplete applications will not be considered

2019-2020 MAPS deadlines

What is the Summer Undergraduate Bursary?

This new bursary program is available in the spring/summer term for students completing the majority of their undergraduate program as a full-time student.

• Open to Canadian citizens or permanent residents only
• Intended to assist with additional costs associated with spring/summer courses and/or unpaid work placements required for degree completion
• Second-degree students are eligible to apply
• Limited funding is available
• Payments will be made in two installments: one in the spring session, one in the summer session

How to apply

• Follow the instructions under the “How to apply” tab
• Find the Summer Undergraduate Bursary application under the “Aid by Application” tab in Mosaic

What is the Bursary for Students with Disabilities (BSWD)?

The Bursary for Students with Disabilities provides financial aid to students self-identifying as having either permanent or temporary disabilities. Funded by the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), this bursary assists with the costs of disability-related services or equipment, such as tutors, note-takers, interpreters, braillers or technical aids that are required to participate in postsecondary studies.

Who is eligible for BSWD?

Full-time and part-time students who:

• Self-identify as having a permanent or temporary disability on the OSAP application
• Have disability-related educational costs for services or equipment that are not covered by another agency or service
• Require these services/equipment to participate in post-secondary studies
• Have discussed accommodations with Student Accessibility Services

How to verify your disability

The OSAP Disability Verification form is the only acceptable proof of disability.

Hand-in a completed OSAP Disability Verification form (PDF) to verify your status as a student with a permanent disability.

Why self-identify as a student with a disability with OSAP?

• You can apply for OSAP for Full-Time Students at a 40% course load
• You can choose between OSAP for Full-Time Students or OSAP for Part Time Students with a 40-59% course load
• You could receive the Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities
• You may be considered for the Bursary for Students with Disabilities (BSWD) if accommodations are needed

How to apply

1. Apply for OSAP for Full-Time Students or OSAP for Part-Time Students and self-identify as a student with a permanent disability
2. Submit your OSAP Disability Verification form to Student Services
3. Meet with Student Accessibility Services (SAS) to discuss accommodations and complete the BSWD application
4. SAS sends the BSWD application to Student Services
5. Application is processed if eligible
6. Bursary funding is credited to the McMaster student account
7. Student Accounts pays the BSWD funding via cheque or direct deposit (depending on student’s preference in Mosaic)
8. Student purchases equipment or services and submits receipts to Student Services by deadline

Your commitment

Make sure you:

• Submit OSAP Disability Verification form to Student Services
• Update your mailing address on Mosaic
• Enrol in direct deposit to have the bursary funding deposited in your bank account
• Purchase all approved items/services once the bursary is received
• Submit receipts to Student Services verifying the payment of all items within 30 days (all ongoing services by the end of the term)
• Repay any unused portion of the BSWD to Student Services

BSWD FAQs

When can I purchase BSWD funded items or services?

Purchases may be made AFTER your BSWD application is approved. Services such as tutoring or note taking should not take place prior to the application approval. Any purchases of items and services made before the application is approved may not be reimbursed.

Will BSWD cover the cost of a learning disability or a psycho-educational assessment?

If you are eligible for BSWD, you may be reimbursed for one diagnostic assessment, in a given loan year, as deemed necessary by a Disability Coordinator in Student Accessibility Services (SAS). Students are required to meet with a Disability Coordinator in SAS for BSWD-approval before completing the assessment.

Can I use BSWD to help pay for tuition or books?

No. BSWD funding is intended to assist students with very specific disability-related educational needs. The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities requires that every dollar of BSWD funding be accounted for with receipts verifying the purchase of the item or service that was approved by the Disability Coordinator.

Is the Canada Student Grant for Persons with Permanent Disabilities the same as BSWD?

The Canada Student Grant for Persons with Permanent Disabilities is a federal OSAP grant. Eligibility for the grant is automatically determined through the full-time or part-time OSAP application process. The maximum value of the grant is $2,000 per academic year. It displaces $2,000 of OSAP federal loan with non-repayable grant funding. Students must self-identify as having a permanent disability on the OSAP application and qualify for funding to receive this grant.

Should students with permanent disabilities apply for full-time or part-time OSAP?

If you have permanent disabilities, and you are taking more than 40% and less than 60% of a full course load in each term, you have a choice of applying for OSAP as a part time or full-time student. It is recommended that you speak with a Student Services Professional for help deciding which program meets your financial needs.

Step 1: Log in to Mosaic

• Go to the “Apply for Aid & Awards” tile on your homepage OR
• Go to “Apply for financial aid” under “Finances” in your Mosaic Student Center
  • Both options will take you to the same page

Step 2: Declarations and preferences

• Go to the current “aid year” to get started. The current aid year will always be whatever year it is in September of that academic year (i.e. “2018” for the 2018-19 year)
• Start at the “Welcome” tab, expand the text boxes to read explanations of each financial aid program (scholarships, bursaries, work program)
• Accept the student declaration and click ….
• On the next screen, use the drop-down menus to select which statements apply to you
  • If few or no statements apply to you, don’t worry! This just filters out very specific scholarships/bursaries that are only open to certain groups of students. There should be options for you even if none of the statements apply to you!

Step 3: OSAP or no OSAP?

If you receive OSAP:

• You should see a message that says you’ve been identified as a student with OSAP under “Your Status”
• Click SAVE
• You’re done this section! You can move on to the “Bursary/Work Program” tab to apply for bursaries (and the McMaster Work Program) and/or the “Aid by Application” tab to apply for scholarships and some specialty bursaries.

If you DO NOT receive OSAP:

• Choose a reason for not receiving OSAP from the drop-down menu
• If you ONLY want to apply for scholarships, make sure to choose “Desire Academic Awards Only”
• If you also want to apply for bursaries and the work program (called “need-based aid” in Mosaic), choose one of the following reasons:
  • Indigenous Student
  • International Student
  • Government aid restriction
  • Taking a reduced course load due to a disability
  • Mohawk Nursing Student
  • Receiving Out-of Province Student Aid
  • Part-time Student
  • Receiving social assistance from a government program OTHER THAN OSAP
• If you select one of the above reasons, you will need to submit additional documents
• Use the Required Document List link and save the PDF to your computer
• Your saved Required Document List will tell you what document(s) you need to submit
• Click SAVE, then NEXT to move on to your Need Profile
  • Your Need Profile includes ‘Cost of Attendance and Expenses’ and ‘Estimated Resources’
  • You will need to provide information including: income (for you and your parent(s)/spouse, number of vehicles owned by you or your spouse, outstanding debt, etc.
  • This information is ONLY required to apply for bursaries and the work program, NOT for scholarships
• Upload all supporting documentation to the MacDrive link in the top-right corner of the Required Document List PDF within 10 business days or the date noted on the PDF

Step 1: Go to “General Bursary/Work Program” tab

At the top of the page, you’ll see three tabs. The bursaries are found under the second tab, “General Bursary/Work Program”. Some specific bursaries, including the Global Experience Exchange Bursary and the Summer Undergraduate Bursary, are found in the third tab, “Aid by Application”.

Go to the current “aid year” to get started.

Step 2: Check your application box(es)

Go to the “Apply for bursaries” box to apply for the McMaster General Bursary program.

• This step is also where you can apply for the work program
• If you’re a part-time student, you can apply for the MAPS bursary for part-time students term-by-term

Step 3: Click SAVE

If you don’t see any error messages, your application has been submitted.

Deadlines

Undergrads/non-MBA grads

Jan 11: Fall/winter general bursary (supporting documents by Jan. 22)

April 12: Summer Undergrad Bursary (supporting documents by April 19) UNDERGRADS ONLY

MBA students

Oct. 31: MBA Bursary

MBA students can apply for both the MBA bursary AND the fall/winter general bursary.

Medicine Students

Nov. 2: Med bursary

Step 1: Go to the “Aid by Application” tab

At the top of the page, you’ll see three tabs. All scholarships are found under the third tab, “Aid by Application”. Go to the current “aid year” to get started.

The scholarships will be broken down into categories: “In-course awards”, “Community Contribution Awards”, “Travel Awards”, “Exchange Awards”, and “Graduand Awards”. Expand each menu to see each award’s requirements.

Step 2: Check your award box(es)

Once you’ve found a scholarship that sounds good to you:

• Go to “Print required documents list”. This link will bring up a PDF, print the PDF or save it to your computer.
• IMPORTANT: Click the “Apply for this award” box. Your application will be incomplete if you don’t!

You can only apply to three Community Contribution Awards per year. Otherwise, there is no limit on the number of scholarships you can apply for.

Step 3: Build your application

The required documents list PDF in Mosaic will tell you what you need to submit to complete your application. The requirements may include:

• One-page explanation: Brief summary of why you are a good choice for the award, usually 400-500 words max.)
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)/academic resume: A resume that focuses on your academic achievements including awards, projects, research, etc.)
• UNOFFICIAL transcript: Print your unofficial transcript from Mosaic – Student Center > My Academics > Unofficial Transcript. No request needed!
• Reference letter: Depending on the award, this could be from a professor, supervisor, colleague, etc. Please note: Travel & Exchange and Graduand scholarships do not require reference letters.
• Community Contribution Award Chart: A chart tracking your extracurricular hours (for Community Contribution Awards only)

Travel/Exchange Awards may also require a budget and/or confirmation of your travel activities.

Step 4: Submit your documents

Upload your supporting documents to the appropriate MacDrive link: 

Deadlines

March 29: Travel and Exchange Awards 

April 30: All other awards

2019-20 Fall/Winter Bursary Dates – Undergrads

2019-20 Summer Bursary Dates – Undergrads

2019-20 Bursary Dates – Grad Students

2019-20 Bursary Dates – Medicine Students

* Physician Assistant Students will be assessed at the same time (No application required)

2019-20 Bursary Dates – MBA Students

*MBA students can apply for the MBA Bursary and the McMaster General Bursary Program. See Graduate Student dates for McMaster General Bursary Program deadlines.

2019-20 Travel & Exchange Scholarship Dates

2019-20 Undergraduate In-Course Scholarship Dates

2019-20 Graduating Students Scholarship Dates

2019-20 Community Contribution Scholarship Dates

2019-20 Rhodes Scholarship Dates

2019-20 Renaissance Scholarship Dates

2019-20 Killam Scholarship Dates